Epatante dazzles in Champion Hurdle triumph

Connections felt Epatante did little wrong when winning the Unibet Champion Hurdle on day one of the Festival.

The 2/1 favourite claimed the biggest race of the opening day at Prestbury Park, beating Sharjah by three lengths with a solid performance.

Barry Geraghty kept the six-year-old towards the front throughout and made his move after the final hurdle, powering up the hill to land the spoils.

Darver Star, who led going to the last, ended up third with Cilaos Emery fourth but there was no doubting the class act in the field.

The Christmas Hurdle winner became the fifth mare to land hurdling’s blue riband event, leaving Henderson buzzing.

‘She was always travelling quite well, I was always pleased with where she was,’ the Seven Barrows handler said.

‘Barry gave her a beautiful ride, he always just had it covered.

She has the gears.

‘ Geraghty was equally as ecstatic after the contest, suggesting that his tactics worked to perfection.

‘She travelled great.

I was a little concerned about the ground, but she was jumping where I wanted her to,’ he said.

‘My plan was to play her late and it worked out perfectly.’

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